The typical student enters college with a wealth of experience writing five-paragraph essays, book reports, and lab reports. Even the best students, however, need to make big adjustments to learn the conventions of academic writing. College-level writing obeys different rules, and learning them will help you hone your writing skills. Think of it as ascending another step up the writing ladder.

Many students feel intimidated asking for help with academic writing; after all, it's something you've been doing your entire life in school. However, there's no need to feel like it's a sign of your lack of ability; on the contrary, many of the strongest student writers regularly get help and support with their writing (that's why they're so strong). College instructors are very familiar with the ups and downs of writing, and most universities have support systems in place to help students learn how to write for an academic audience. The following sections discuss common on-campus writing services, what to expect from them, and how they can help you.

Kings College, Cambridge

College writing can seem daunting at first, but there are methods to help you master it.

Writing Mentors

Learning to write for an academic audience is challenging, but universities offer various resources to guide students through the process. Most instructors will be happy to meet with you during office hours to discuss guidelines for writing about their particular discipline. If you have any doubts about research methods, paper structure, writing style, etc., address these uncertainties with the instructor before you hand in your paper, rather than waiting to see the critiques they write in the margins afterward. You are not bothering your instructor by showing up for office hours; they'll be glad to see you.

Writing Centers

Most colleges have writing centers that are designed to help students meet college-level expectations. These centers usually offer one-on-one advisory meetings or group sessions that cover topics ranging from conducting research to conquering procrastination. Many writing centers employ student mentors from a wide range of disciplines, so try to work with one who deeply understands the field you're writing in. 

Learning by Example

Many students like to learn by example, and find it very helpful to read other students' academic writing. Some universities publish outstanding student essays. Some professors keep copies of student papers, and they may be willing to show you examples of writing that meets their expectations. Genuine student papers are universally better models to follow than any of the "sample essays" on the Internet. 

Student-Led Workshops

Some courses encourage students to share their research and writing with each other, and even offer workshops where students can present their own writing and offer constructive comments to their classmates. Independent paper-writing workshops provide a space for peers with varying interests, work styles, and areas of expertise to brainstorm. If you want to improve your writing, organizing a workshop session with your classmates is a great strategy. You can also ask your writing center to help you organize a workshop for a specific class or subject. In high school, students submit their work in multiple stages, from the thesis statement to the outline to a draft of the paper; finally, after receiving feedback on each preliminary piece, they submit a completed project. This format teaches students how to divide writing assignments into smaller tasks and schedule these tasks over an extended period of time, instead of scrambling through the entire process right before the deadline. Some college courses build this kind of writing schedule into major assignments. Even if your course does not, you can master the skill of breaking large assignments down into smaller projects instead of leaving an unmanageable amount of work until the last minute. Academic writing can, at times, feel overwhelming. You can waste a great deal of time staring at a blank screen or a troublesome paragraph, when it would be more productive to move on to drafting other parts of your paper. When you return to the problem section a few hours later (or, even better, the next day), the solution may be obvious. 

Writing in drafts makes academic work more manageable. Drafting gets your ideas onto paper, which gives you more to work with than the perfectionist's daunting blank screen. You can always return later to fix the problems that bother you.

Scheduling the Stages of Your Writing Process

Time management, not talent, has been the secret to a lot of great writing through the ages. Not even a "great" writer can produce a masterpiece the night before it's due. Breaking a large writing task into smaller pieces will not only save your sanity, but will also result in a more thoughtful, polished final draft.

Sample schedule: 

• Monday: Visit your instructor's office hours to discuss ideas, sources, and structure for the essay. 
• Tuesday: Do research at the library from 5:00 to 9:00, taking detailed notes and planning how each piece of research will fit into your paper.
• Wednesday: Do research at the library from 2:00 to 6:00, take detailed notes, and give yourself permission to write an imperfect draft.
• Thursday: Begin a first draft of the essay.
• Friday: Continue expanding/editing the first draft.
• Saturday: Look again at the draft and continue to make changes/additions/deletions. 
• Sunday: Write a final draft. Print out your paper for proofreading (it's worth it).
• Monday: Don't look at the essay. However, if there are any remaining questions, go to your instructor's office hours. 
• Tuesday: Revise, edit and proofread the essay one more time. Relax while everyone else in your class is panicking.
• Wednesday morning: Give the essay a final read and proofread, and print it out.
• Wednesday afternoon: Turn in your essay. 

Emailing Your Instructor 

Example Email

Subject: Expository Writing 101: Office hours on Tuesday               

Dear/Hello Professor [Last name], 

I have a few questions about the next essay assignment for Expository Writing 101. Would it be convenient to discuss them during your office hours on Tuesday? Let me know if there is a specific time when I should stop by. Thank you for your help with these assignments. 

Many thanks, 

[First name] [Last name]

Expository Writing 101; T, Th, 10:00

Tips for Emailing Your Instructor

• Be polite: Address your professor formally, using the title "Professor" with their last name. Depending on how formal your professor seems, use the salutation "Dear," or a more informal "Hello" or "Hi." Don't drop the salutation altogether, though.
• Be concise. Instructors are busy people, and although they are typically more than happy to help you, do them the favor of getting to your point quickly. Sign off with your first and last name, the course number, and the class time. This will make it easy for your professor to identify you.
• Do not ever ask, "When will you return our papers?" If you MUST ask, make it specific and realistic (e.g., "Will we get our papers back by the end of next week?").